It’s almost time for the NC Apple Festival

Published: Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 7:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 7:15 a.m.

Henderson County is known for its apple crop; in fact, we are so known for our apples that for the past 67 years we have been home of the annual North Carolina Apple Festival.

It kicks off on Friday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. with the Festival Opening Ceremony at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street and finishes up on Monday, Sept. 2 with the King Apple Parade beginning at 2:30 p.m. and heading from North Main Street at Five Points to Caswell Street.

The Apple Festival is no doubt a huge economic boost to Henderson County. In past years, it has been estimated that between 225,000 and 250,000 people come to our community and spend upwards of $15 million during their stay.

The festival isn’t the only way that local apple crops have an impact on the Henderson County economy. According to www.ncapples.com, during a normal year, the apple crop brings in an average income of $22 million or more.

North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in apple production, and Henderson County ranks first by growing 85 percent of all the apples in the state. Growing apples has been part of Henderson County’s culture and heritage since the mid-1700s. Today there are approximately 200 apple growers in Henderson County.

The North Carolina Apple Festival kicks off the fall tourism season for the county. Tourism is one of the big four economic drivers for our county — the others being agriculture, manufacturing and retirement.

In 2012, tourism in our county generated an economic impact of $218.4 million — a 4.32 percent increase over 2011. Our congratulations to the new Tourism Development Authority, its staff and everyone in the local tourism industry for facilitating this growth.

More than 1,900 jobs in Henderson County are attributed to travel and tourism. Those jobs generated a $37.8 million payroll in 2012. These wages, in turn, are spent again in our community as these employees purchase goods and services in our community, contribute to local charities, enroll children in our school system, invest in neighborhood improvements, promote community development, and the list goes on and on.

Following the Apple Festival, harvest season will be in its peak and folks will flock to the apple orchards and roadside stands to buy North Carolina apples and locally grown produce.

People visit Henderson County for more than our famous apple crop, though. Our fall foliage is a very popular sightseeing attraction.

However, Mother Nature is pretty difficult to predict, especially for the fall of 2013. All the rain in Western North Carolina this summer may affect the fall foliage show.

Bright sunshine in September would help, but fall 2013 will still be a great time to check out some of our major attractions.

◆ Boyd Park

◆ Burntshirt Vineyards

◆ Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

◆ Curb Market

◆ DuPont State Forest

◆ Flat Rock Playhouse

◆ Fletcher Community Park

◆ Hands On! A Child’s Gallery

◆ Henderson County Heritage Museum

◆ Hendersonville Little Theatre

◆ Hendersonville Train Depot

◆ Historic Johnson Farm

◆ Holmes Educational State Farm

◆ Jackson Park

◆ Jump Off Rock

◆ Mineral & Lapidary Museum

◆ Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

◆ St. John in the Wilderness Church

◆ Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium

◆ Western North Carolina Air Museum We are fortunate to live in a community that has several economic engines. Experiencing an increase in 2012 vs. 2011 in the tourism sector is a sign of positive things to come for Henderson County and North Carolina.

The Chamber strives to be a community resource. For more information on what the Chamber can do for you and your business, stop by our office at 204 Kanuga Road in downtown Hendersonville, visit our website at www.hendersoncountychammber. org or give us a call at 828-6921413.

<p>Henderson County is known for its apple crop; in fact, we are so known for our apples that for the past 67 years we have been home of the annual North Carolina Apple Festival.</p><p>It kicks off on Friday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. with the Festival Opening Ceremony at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street and finishes up on Monday, Sept. 2 with the King Apple Parade beginning at 2:30 p.m. and heading from North Main Street at Five Points to Caswell Street.</p><p>The Apple Festival is no doubt a huge economic boost to Henderson County. In past years, it has been estimated that between 225,000 and 250,000 people come to our community and spend upwards of $15 million during their stay.</p><p>The festival isn't the only way that local apple crops have an impact on the Henderson County economy. According to www.ncapples.com, during a normal year, the apple crop brings in an average income of $22 million or more. </p><p>North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation in apple production, and Henderson County ranks first by growing 85 percent of all the apples in the state. Growing apples has been part of Henderson County's culture and heritage since the mid-1700s. Today there are approximately 200 apple growers in Henderson County. </p><p>The North Carolina Apple Festival kicks off the fall tourism season for the county. Tourism is one of the big four economic drivers for our county — the others being agriculture, manufacturing and retirement. </p><p>In 2012, tourism in our county generated an economic impact of $218.4 million — a 4.32 percent increase over 2011. Our congratulations to the new Tourism Development Authority, its staff and everyone in the local tourism industry for facilitating this growth. </p><p>More than 1,900 jobs in Henderson County are attributed to travel and tourism. Those jobs generated a $37.8 million payroll in 2012. These wages, in turn, are spent again in our community as these employees purchase goods and services in our community, contribute to local charities, enroll children in our school system, invest in neighborhood improvements, promote community development, and the list goes on and on. </p><p>Following the Apple Festival, harvest season will be in its peak and folks will flock to the apple orchards and roadside stands to buy North Carolina apples and locally grown produce. </p><p>The Apple Orchards-Farm Markets Tour Map available on the Blue Ridge Direct Market Association website (www.ncapples. com) shows 28 farms to visit. </p><p>You can find everything from apples to peaches to pick-your- own. </p><p>People visit Henderson County for more than our famous apple crop, though. Our fall foliage is a very popular sightseeing attraction. </p><p>However, Mother Nature is pretty difficult to predict, especially for the fall of 2013. All the rain in Western North Carolina this summer may affect the fall foliage show. </p><p>Bright sunshine in September would help, but fall 2013 will still be a great time to check out some of our major attractions. </p><p>◆ Boyd Park </p><p>◆ Burntshirt Vineyards </p><p>◆ Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site </p><p>◆ Curb Market </p><p>◆ DuPont State Forest </p><p>◆ Flat Rock Playhouse </p><p>◆ Fletcher Community Park </p><p>◆ Hands On! A Child's Gallery </p><p>◆ Henderson County Heritage Museum </p><p>◆ Hendersonville Little Theatre </p><p>◆ Hendersonville Train Depot </p><p>◆ Historic Johnson Farm </p><p>◆ Holmes Educational State Farm </p><p>◆ Jackson Park </p><p>◆ Jump Off Rock </p><p>◆ Mineral & Lapidary Museum </p><p>◆ Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards </p><p>◆ St. John in the Wilderness Church </p><p>◆ Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium </p><p>◆ Western North Carolina Air Museum We are fortunate to live in a community that has several economic engines. Experiencing an increase in 2012 vs. 2011 in the tourism sector is a sign of positive things to come for Henderson County and North Carolina. </p><p>The Chamber strives to be a community resource. For more information on what the Chamber can do for you and your business, stop by our office at 204 Kanuga Road in downtown Hendersonville, visit our website at www.hendersoncountychammber. org or give us a call at 828-6921413.</p>